equanimity in life

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09/02/09--19:59: Manufacturing Musings (chan 2761993)

Link to my professional experience and expertise. Check it out for Project Management, Lean Manufacturing, Supplier Management training and


09/02/09--20:43: Quantum Big Party (chan 2761993)

Retirement party and reunion for Swee Heong. It is rare these days to find people who can free their time and take effort to meet up after a company have close. In this instance, QPM close in 2001! Kudos to Quantum Peripheral Malaysia management team to instill such team spirit and enthusiasm in their staff. For all photos visit http://picasaweb.google.com/exqpm02/ItSOnly55Year2009?feat=email#


09/03/09--16:27: Piano Pieces (chan 2761993)

Daughter's ABRSM grade 8


09/07/09--08:24: Restaurants Roulette (chan 2761993)

Imagine your are in town for the first time and looking for a place to eat. Its a small place with only the familiar row of pre-war shoplots on each side of the main road. You cruise along and spied a typical corner shop where the crowd is highest. Immediately decision made to eat at this place. Now I wonder if this will additionally influence out taste bud as well. You have to wait longer for the food to be served, meanwhile your gastric juice is flowing from all the aroma wafting through the place. Makes me always wonder if the food on these crowded place is really good or just a psychological effect.
What it was, reverse psychology or actual, the opposite effect happens to me last Friday when we took a customer to Smoky Jack Ribs & Steakhouse. I received a junk mail a while back proclaiming the virtues of Smoky J and I decided to give this place a try as most of the regular places we took customers were full due to Ramadam buffets. I t...


10/13/09--07:15: Air Asia X-horror (chan 2761993)

Trip to Melbourne? Sounds wonderful especially if on business trip aka all-expense paid. Too good to last as it turns out that last week was also time for student to return to skippy-land as semester is starting, which means the alternative to the usual MH or SQ is the more expensive Middle East airline or our low cost, oops I should say budget airline. Luckily I requested travel agent to pre-book baggage allowance of 15kg and meal (found out only 1) on board. Jumping into it without much investigation which we would do if one mindset is on budget travel, I arrived at airport and baggage weigh in at 15.2 kg which was acceptable to check in. 1st horror of budget airline, check in and baggage is from point to point, what it you might ask? Well, its a nice way to tell you that they do not invest in costly tracking and logistic system and you have to collect baggage at transit point and check in again. Lugging around 15kg of baggage is no fun and queuing up again for another check-in is wo...


10/13/09--07:40: Sungai Klah Hotspring Resort (chan 2761993)

Not bad if the hot pool is cleaner. The resort for RM180 nett on holiday season is worth it as it includes hotspring entrance and breakfast. Do not be fool by the direction provided in the website as it leads to another


10/13/09--08:09: Trip to Down Under! (chan 2761993)

If you follow my blog on AirAsia here, do calm down and relax with the beautiful Yarra valley for the 1st 3 photos. 4th is the famous St Paul's Catheral in downtown Melbourne near Flinder's St Station. Finally the last photo depict the primary reason for going to Australia which is the faciliate the PACT project acceleration workshop in Continental


10/16/09--06:37: Organizing Workshop Tips 1. Use video, games, quiz to make workshop lively and interesting 2. Memory retention in increasing order, read--see--do--teach 3. When subject is dry, ie too much words, technical --> use flip chart to break monotony 4. Use flip charts as far as possible, it can be pin up for easy ref and remember 5. Lastly smile and be genuinely interested in the workshop, importance of body language (chan 2761993)




10/21/09--07:05: At Panyu (chan 2761993)

Panyu is about an hour's drive from GuangZhou and slightly more if you came by ferry via NanSha terminal down south. In my previous career with Quantum, I often visited my supplier Lafe situated there. Photo of me at Panyu


12/08/09--07:02: Shanghai re-visit (chan 2761993)

Recently I have another opportunity to visit Shanghai. Last trip was in Feb to qualify myself as a Project Facilitator, this time around was to participate in a workshop for Project Management coaches. The ride on Maglev on way to town was considerably faster, top speed reached was 423 kmh! Wow, you might think, how much China have advance, but at what cost? More people are cramping the subway, ignoring each other and rushing headlong into the trains coming into the station. Air quality have considerably deteriorate but largely ignored by the populace here, I was noticebly the few people wearing mask here. As mask is no longer guaranteed to prevent spread of H1N1. China seems to be able to manage or accept the menace quite well.

I was quite glad when I re-boarded the Maglev after 5 days in Shanghai. Although I will be going back to warm and humid Penang..........




03/16/10--06:52: CNY Feast (chan 2761993)

Each year I really look forward to re-union dinner. Surprise? You may be so as I have notice that CNY is becoming another public holiday and dreaded by many, some who even chose to be away and in the process erodes a fine tradition. Coming back to the subject, nowadays with our purchasing power and spending habits, good food is becoming the norm rather than exception, with fine fish and mutated (x-large) prawns becoming a regular fare. So its no wonder fewer and fewer grown ups welcome new year with great anticipation and excitement. Children's still look forward but because they have more time with their videos and games with school and tuition centers closed.
What then is special that makes me retain some of my childhood enthusiasm? Food of course. Its only once a year that my auntie (from my godmother's side) cook the traditional "Lin Na" province food which are the "yang ye", "phang te ba" and "bing soon". The first dish, "yang ye" is finely chop pork, prawn and fish meat blended an...


03/18/10--05:59: CNY Delicacies (chan 2761993)

Something to look forward to each


05/07/10--08:13: A Faithful Helper (chan 2761993)

You came from far away
Even your needs is special
But over the years you remain faithful

Taking care of you is easy
Small amount of nourishment suffice
Your hygiene is manageable

While you gave us privacy
And working without complaint
Keeps the place spotless

Many years passed
Takes more effort each day
Yet you kept on, and on

Time takes it toll
Work you must else decay sets
Till the end of days





05/07/10--08:24: Old Faithful (chan 2761993)

Direct from US, since


06/26/10--08:17: Goewy Chocolate Ice Cream (chan 2761993)

Recently I purchased a starter ice cream (ic) maker and started experimenting with various recipes, mostly from internet and also browsed from bakery stores.

Many years back, I use to make ice cream as well, the economy way, using cocoa powder instead of chocolate, coffee creamer instead of cream and cake mixer instead of ic maker. Well, it did turn out quite alright, during the time when Baskin Robbs and Swensen were unheard off. Of course our taste bud were not that pampered and more accomodating as well! If interested, let me know and I can share the recipe, courtesy from my sister in-law.

Back to my ic maker, its nothing special but a double walled container which contains high freeze chemicals which cools down and "freezes" the mixtures as it slowly stir it around. No additional whipping done and the mixture thickens as it mixes it up quite but not nearly comparable to the boutique versions. Taste-wise its better than mid-range (Nestle – La Cremeria) and also we know what goes int...


08/18/10--07:18: Are we motivating correctly? (chan 2761993)

Many books and as many trainings later, motivation is still a much misunderstood verb for most people. These are the usual quick fixes which promise overnight results. Most motivation practices in existence today are the stick and carrot approach, or preferably the other way around, CAS. If an employee carries out his work as per the objectives of management, a reward will be given. Is this motivation? If you ask around, most likely you will receive an overwhelming response "YES!" On the other end of the motivation spectrum, the stick approach, where employee will be equally or more motivated to avoid it. In both cases, there is motion seen in the employee but it is the management who is motivated to create the motion in the employee. Thus it shows that CAS does not equal motivation.
Why then is CAS not motivation? An example, my brother's pet Shih Tzu will lie down flat with legs splayed outwards when it sees a dog biscuit in his hand. The dog wants the biscuit but it is my brother who...


09/20/10--05:58: Roti Chanai Makcik Comel (chan 2761993)

Arguably the best roti chanai stall in Seberang Perai, at least in the Jalan Baru area. I stumbled across it looking for a place for breakfast on the way to work. It was way back in late 2009 and since then, I noticed that the customer has grown considerably, and it is becoming more difficult for me to enjoy this tasty snack as the queue would make me late for work.
I am not a food blog writer but I am compel to write this article as I would like to remember the circumstance leading me to name this stall Roti Chanai Makcik Comel. Coming from Bukit Mertajam into Jalan Baru, after passing Sekolah Jalan Baru and the mini bridge, slow down, it’s the first roti chanai stall you come up on near the roadside. Parking is either on the roadside (hazardous) or slightly passes the stalls. It serves roti, pre-pack nasi lemak and teh susu. As with other roti chanai, it’s best eaten hot at the stall. Seating is quite sparse, but it’s available. The cook is enthusias...


10/02/10--07:13: Roomba Tips which iRobot misses....... Charging. For those using transformer, advisable not to let unit continuous charge. Transformer consume electricity and due to frequency of our electricity, the life of battery is reduced. Even for 110V users, many have complaint of reduced battery life. Home base. Roomba need to sync with home base prior to cleaning cycle. Thus you need to start cleaning cycle from home base and with it switch on before you start cleaning cycle. Virtual Wall. For 4XX models, you can and should switch off after each use to increase battery life. For 5XX models, the improved virtual wall and lighthouse activates and auto shut down depending on the condition of the unit. Cleaning. The paper filter can be and should be cleaned with detergent and water. We can thus re-use the filter again and again. Ensure that its soak in detergent and gently rub the dirt away. Do not use direct water jet from hose and ensure it is dried completely before use. (chan 2761993)




10/02/10--07:22: Scooba Tips which iRobot did not provide........ Mostly for Asian users with 240V and use transformer to obtain 110V. Charging and Virtual Wall. Refer to Roomba notes. Cleaning. Definitely you need additional service frequency. If the unit is not properly maintained, the check tank light is more frequent. Tanks. Always empty tank after use, from both section. And leave the cap open to dry out. Else mold will form and rotten smell will emit from the dirty tank. Pre-clean. Scooba is mainly for wet cleaning. Thus it does not have much capacity to pick up and contain solid waste. Also the roller is not designed to pick up hair, in fact hair mostly entangle on the roller. Detergent. Use chemical vinegar (cheap) instead. Several squeezes from the bottle will suffice. It anti-bacterial and smell of vinegar will go away quickly. No soapy remains and Scooba will not slip on the floor. (chan 2761993)




10/04/10--06:18: Spice Garden (chan 2761993)

Much greenery but cannot find enough spice....Tree Monkey serves unique and delicious Thai food but pricey, almost as high as the location of the


05/06/11--09:11: my Savvy (chan 2761993)

Why Savvy? I should have stopped you....I have a friend who owns a Savvy and......

Well you know what, most of the feedback I receive were true but considering the price I paid at RM34,294, after 3453 km of driving between my daughter & I, I still feel it is a good buy, provided of course if you do not sell it for the next 10+ years!

3 months ago, mid-Feb 2011, I was hunting for a small size car with good mileage and I remember that my friend Khuzir have bought one, and found out, surprisingly that he was happy with his Savvy. So my wife and I started looking around, poking into a Proton dealer who promptly pointed us to the new Saga which the salesman claim was a hot seller. We press him for Savvy and lacklustre-ly thrust a catalog at us. Knowing the Savvy to be "cold" car as what the Chinese would call a slow moving item, we requested for discounts. Well, he said the CNY angpow offer was over but he could ask his manager.

What angpow? Did not see any advertisement, was this real?...


09/13/11--07:21: Off the cuff recipes (chan 2761993)

Often we are called upon to cook a meal, this usually entails basic raw ingredients and spices and flavours that we normally stock up at home or perhaps in our gardens. I was requested by dear daughter for her to cook something familar and easy to dish up. Here goes,

Main course is salmon, steamed. Buy 2 slices from hypermarket, keep it in the mid section of fridge until ready to cook, if overnight then it goes into the freezer section. If not frozen, take it out and clean it with salt, salt is a good cleaner for meat and remember rinse it off. Wear a rubber glove when preparing meat as it helps to keep the smell away.

Drip dry and lay in on the steamer plate (stainless 8 inch) which has been coated earlier with sesame oil. This will prevent sticking and ease the cleaning. Not to mention the aromatic frangrance imparted.

Cut up 2 inch length ginger (old) into long thin strands, if you forgotten to buy some, don't worry, get some from your herb garden. Also smash up 2 garlics bulb. Lay ...


09/13/11--07:31: Savvy updates Coming to 10K but went service around 8K as feel roughness in engine with aircon turn on. Improved but still feel it at low speed. Not surprising for small cc vehicles. On mileage, it gives me 13.8km/lit or 14cents/km at current petrol price of RM1.90. Well how is impression of Savvy after 8 months of use? Serves its purpose using it as a single passenger vehicle and is practical in traffic jam conditions. Petrol comsumption is acceptable but not as incredible as claimed by Proton. Not good for long distance and if carrying passengers. True to its German tech tag, not seeing the usual loose parts or poor power of earlier models. Transmission of AMT is the main drawback! (chan 2761993)




10/29/11--06:41: Spaghetti Special (chan 2761993)

Continuing my series on efficient cooking, and a special request from my favorite fan, as presented in my last blog, here is the special recipe for spaghetti.
In its basic form spaghetti is cook with tomato sauce or carbonara sauce . First prepare the meatball. Marinate as normal using pepper,soy sauce and a dash of rice wine. Mix well and add in corn flour mix well again. Form into appropriate ball size and place in a bowl for steaming. Steam for ten minutes.
Next is the broccoli, cut into bite size not forgetting the stem. Very tasteful, prepare by slicing out the outer tough skin exposing the inner flesh. Prepare a half a pot of water, add in a pinch of salt, place into it clean egg and potato and bring to boil, add in mushroom if you like. Blanch the broccoli, it's done when color turn to bright green, scoop out with chopsticks.
Cook the spaghetti in the boiled water after the broccoli, egg and potatoes remains. All should be cooked in 15minutes. Drain water thoroughly using a sieve....


10/29/11--06:55: Spaghetti Special (chan 2761993)

Go to my facebook to view the size of the meatball!


11/30/11--05:37: Surviving your 1st winter for tropical dwellers (chan 2761993)

Malaysians often complain about the hot tropical environment we live in and can only experience either hot sunny days or sudden downpour which we are witnessing for the last few years. Yes, blame it on global warming for the extremes seen in the climate.

What if you are suddenly thrust in a seasonal country? Happy to be there now in mid to late Autumn when the maples are turning to a reddish hue? Wonderful but you realize suddenly that the weather is turning colder day by day. For those who could jet-set there and back after a week or 2, I was told either the euphoria or our tropical blood is still warm to fool the body that its not that cold after all. Others who are there one reason or another and have to stay on through winter have better to prepare themselves or face the winter months terribly.

So how to keep healthy and warm? Some pointers I glean from internet which are mostly common sense but  to bears reminder especially for those who need to pass their firs...